Test anxiety is a psychological condition in which a person experiences distress before, during, or after a test or other assessment to such an extent that this anxiety causes poor performance or interferes with normal learning. It deserves notice due to its prevalence amongst the student populations of the world. The original research and development of the TAQ (Test Anxiety Questionnaire) was conducted by G. Mandler and S.B. Sarason in 1952.

Symptoms

It has been shown through studies that test anxiety has a strongly negative relationship with test performance.

• Physical — headaches, nausea or diarrhea, extreme body temperature changes, excessive sweating, shortness of breath, light-headedness or fainting, rapid heart beat, and/or dry mouth.
• Emotional — excessive feelings of fear, disappointment, anger, or, taken to extreme levels, depression; uncontrollable crying or laughing, feelings of helplessness
• Behavioral — fidgeting, pacing, substance abuse, avoidance
• Cognitive — racing thoughts, 'going blank', difficulty concentrating, negative self-talk, feelings of dread, comparing oneself to others, difficulty organizing one's thoughts